With agility, Balam uncoiled his sarong and fastened it loosely around his neck. As he stared at Chance, his body grew into an ebony jaguar the size of a horse. A rumble emanated from his chest as he turned and disappeared into the noisy jungle.
He was alone. Balam had led him into a new area they had never visited. They hiked for half an hour through the wilderness, up hills and down rocky ravines. He knew his great-grandfather would make his way back to Ana quickly. Would he travel the whole way as a jaguar or would he try to throw Chance off and shift into different animals? If he got lost, Balam would find him. He hoped.
Time to focus. Chance settled on the ground and faced the direction the jaguar had gone in. His eyes snapped shut and he cleared his thoughts.
Smells specific to the Yucatán filtered into his nose. The terra cotta soil smelled like clay baking in the sun. A floral aroma suggested sweet blooms were nearby. He let the scents steep in his senses while he thought about his favorite form, the grizzly bear. He visualized its wet, black nose and his power buzzed with electricity. After nearly a month’s training, his energy reacted more quickly. He was so much closer to having his powers back to where they were before he gave it all away. To save Ana.
His nose tingled and the skin on his face grew tight. Shooting pain stabbed at his sinuses. It felt as if he’d been punched, and he almost expected to taste blood as he lifted his hand to inspect the damage.
A wet, porous snout extended under his fingers. But his great-grandfather wouldn’t be happy if Chance cruised into the clearing sporting a bear’s snout. He cupped his muzzle and called on his powers once more. This was very different from letting go and allowing a full change to take effect. It was pinpointed, and took all of his control. Energy hummed below his palms and he felt his nose shrink back to normal. He flared his nostrils and dropped his hands back to his side.
Did he still have the extra sensors he needed? After a deep inhalation, he knew he did. The things he’d smelled before the transformation were just a few of the many he detected now.
Chance leapt to his feet, ready to move. He sniffed the air and attempted to identify the various scents. Finally, he caught a familiar aroma that had to be a mammal.
The trail zigzagged through the jungle for nearly an hour and he knew he was close when his heart began to race from Ana’s distinct floral and pine fragrance.
He raced down a ravine, crossed a small creek and flew up the opposite bank. A cluster of rocks densely overgrown with vines was at the top and he hurdled over them. Something cracked nearby but he thought nothing of it and continued on, propelling off a pile of leaves. A projectile launched toward his legs. He moved fast to avoid it but Ana’s sharpened spear moved faster and tore through the muscles in his calf.
“Argh!”
Damn it! Why hadn’t he paid attention? Ana would lose it if she saw him hurt by her own hand. Blood flowed down and pooled in his shoe. The spear hadn’t implanted into his flesh but he felt queasy, nonetheless. Raindrops trickled down his body and he wiped the water from his brow.
No one had to know about it. Just as he was about to shift and heal, Balam and Ana emerged from behind some trees. He turned sideways to obscure her view of his leg and planted his foot on the ground. It took all his effort not to wince.
Balam spoke first, “Good job, Chance. You followed my trail very well. I made it easy for you this time—even in the rain—but you did well.”
“How do you know I followed your trail? Were you watching me?” Chance asked as he tried to ignore his painful wound.
“Yes. I doubled back as a bird and monitored you until you came close enough. Then I joined Ana to check and see how she did. I see the trap surprised you.”
Why couldn’t Balam hold his tongue? Chance sighed and stared at the ground rather than risking a glare at his great-grandfather.
Ana frowned, shuffled around Balam and arched her neck. She cringed and shouted, “Chance! Are you okay?” She turned a furious gaze on Balam. “I told you I didn’t want anyone getting hurt!”
“He will be fine after he shifts. It is good experience. Better this way than at the tip of an enemy’s spear, do not you agree?” Balam crossed his arms on his chest.
“No, I don’t! I just speared my boyfriend’s leg! There is something just wrong with that. If my or my loved one’s life and health are threatened, I will do whatever it takes to keep us safe. But Chance was not threatening me. It’s just not right!”
Before she turned and ran off toward home, Chance noticed her cheek quiver and her eyes well with tears. Great. Just great. Now he’d upset her. If he had paid more attention, he could have easily evaded her trap.
“She is headstrong.” Balam stated.
“Yes.”
“I suggest you heal before we go home and clean up. When your mate is unhappy, no one is happy. Woman are natural healers. They get conflicted about causing harm.” Chance couldn’t decide if the expression on Balam’s face represented sadness or remorse . . .
“See? I’m fine. Just took a quick shift and I’m all better.”
Ana was sitting on the bed with her back to him. He settled behind her and rubbed her shoulder. As soon as he touched her, she spun around and wrapped her arms around him. Nothing compared to having her against his skin. He tucked her head under his chin and embraced her.
“Chance, I’m so sorry. I won’t do it again. I can’t.” Her whispers caught in her throat.
“Shh, don’t worry about it, my love. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” He lifted her face to look into her watery green eyes. His heart thrummed. “God, I love you,” he said before kissing her on the lips.
All the attention spent on training had certainly drained the passion from their relationship. He only had enough energy at the end of each day to collapse in bed before the sun met the horizon. Chance had felt a distance grow between them and he didn’t like it. Ana was by his side every day and they were in a beautiful land steeped in history. Life surrounded them, but the precious moments were lost under the ever-present weight of survival.
He clung to her, not wanting the moment to end. She seemed to be of like mind and lowered herself back onto the bed. Chance slid his hands up to cup her face and nuzzled into her neck. Short gasps escaped her lips, which nearly drove him into a frenzy.
“Oh, Chance, I love you.”
He laid a trail of tender kisses from her jaw line back to her mouth, silencing her. Her hands dug into his back and Chance growled. The sound brought him back to the present and he raised himself off of her. She appeared confused so he said, “Believe me, I’d like to do this every minute of every day, but I’m not sure it’s smart to keep going.” He brushed a stray lock of hair from her face before he sat up.
Ana sighed, readjusted her tank top and got up. They were silent for a minute before Chance changed the subject. “Balam’s a trip. He’s so hard to read. One minute he’s all serious and the next, he appears to have a heart.”
“I’m not sure. But he’s not so scary to me anymore. I think he’s just lived through so much, he’s lost…I dunno. His hope? Something.” Ana sighed, pulled her hair back into a ponytail and said, “Should we go downstairs?”
“Sure. Balam was getting some food together. I’m hungry.”
Ana clutched her belly and said, “Boy, I am, too. My appetite has been out of control since you healed my heart. I’m just glad I’m all muscle now.”
They chased each other downstairs and found Balam at the table. A platter of meat, beans and potatoes waited for them.
“Help yourselves to food. You must be hungry after your hard work.”
Chance and Ana sat down and began to serve themselves.
Balam took a sip from his cup and said, “You both have worked very hard. I think you have earned some fun. Our work is done for the day. Let us drink to your accomplishments.” He snatched up a narrow bottle filled with a clear liquid and poured some into three small glasses.
Bal
am handed one to Ana, who eyed it cautiously and said, “What is it?”
“It is made from fermented corn. I made it myself. It is for those who seek answers.”
Chance held his glass up and grinned at Ana, who sniffed at hers before she clinked it against his.
“Thanks, Balam, for mentoring us and welcoming us into your home,” Chance said.
He was the first to lift the drink to his lips. The liquid ran down his throat and burned the entire way to his stomach. “Hooh!”
Ana’s glass paused at her lips as she stared wide-eyed at Chance while he sputtered and winced. He gave her the thumbs up sign and she sipped at Balam’s concoction.
“Oh, my,” she said and added, “I think I could take it with some hot chocolate. Do you mind if I make some, Balam?”
Ana had already learned the recipe and taken over the morning preparations. Balam nodded so she went to the hearth and stoked the fire. As she got to work making hot chocolate, Balam stood with the bottle in hand and sat on the couch. Chance followed him over and stared at the fire, fascinated with its movement.
“I have been alone a long time. I waited for you to come, Chance. I had begun to wonder if Niyol had kept his promise or if the bloodline had run dry. The end of my cycle is drawing near. I have no place in this world any longer. When I lost my true mate, there was nothing left for me but to find one I could pass my knowledge to. I had hoped Niyol would be the one but it is you. Both.”
Ana turned around to look at him and asked, “Are you dying?”
“I am nearly six-hundred years old. My shifting has kept me alive for this long, but it is time to pass my power back to the earth. I am ready. I am tired.”
Chance tried to see it from that perspective. He couldn’t imagine a world without Ana and couldn’t imagine what it would be like to live that long.
“How did she die?” he asked.
Balam’s face darkened. “I do not like talking of it.” He appeared to consider answering, and spoke slowly, “Another shifter with the sickness. Looking for others to feed off of. He sought power and chose my mate—Itzel’s mother. Your great-grandmother, Chance. She had healing power, like many of the woman of our line. He sensed her energy and killed her. I came to protect her too late. Her body had run cold. There was nothing for me to do but bury her.”
Balam poured more of the corn alcohol into their glasses and Chance said quietly, “Did you kill him?”
“The one time I killed a shifter was from necessity. But no, I never found him and he never came back. My little Itzel saw it all, hidden and safe.”
“I’m sorry,” Chance said, staring into the fire.
“Oh, me, too. That is such an awful story, and your daughter saw it all…terrible,” Ana said and Balam tilted his head and nodded.
After expelling a sigh, Ana stirred the hot chocolate once more, poured it into a mug and then mixed in the alcohol that remained in her glass. After she blew on it, she gave a quick sip and muttered, “Yummy.”
Chance lifted his glass to Balam, shot back his drink and swallowed quickly, trying to avoid the fiery bite. His stomach was warm, along with his cheeks and ears. His muscles, which had been sore from the long day’s work, no longer ached. The padded cushions beneath him felt like clouds as he slouched lower and Ana curled up beside him.
“Tell us about the Mayans. What happened? Weren’t your people powerful?” Chance asked. His voice sounded funny and he chuckled.
“I was born after the shifter war but my father survived it and told me of our downfall. Yes, my people were brilliant. We watched the stars and they guided us. They taught us how to measure time so we created the calendar. We had scientists and mathematicians. The Maya grew to great power. It was believed shifters were given power to help encourage balance and order within the earthly plane. Our natural powers gave us status. Many became rulers, shamans, or elite warriors.
“As cities grew large and prosperous, resources were strained when rains did not come to our great land and the maize turned yellow and died. People were suffering and kings were desperate to heal the land so they led attacks on neighboring kingdoms in search of people to sacrifice for the Gods’ favor. It was not widespread knowledge that a shifter could absorb another’s energy. It began when a young shaman desired more power. He told his king the Gods wished more sacrifices to bring rain and misled their people into war just so he could locate and kill more people with our gifts. It only takes one person, Chance. One with the sickness and the power to destroy everything.
“City after city was devastated as his quest for power continued. He only told his king the Gods were not happy yet and needed more. Whispers spread amongst shapeshifters about what was truly happening, and alliances were made. That was the beginning of the Great Shapeshifter War and nearly the end of the Maya and our kind. No city was left undamaged. Some thought the only way to stop him was to build their own strength off others and soon, there were many struck with the sickness, leading the innocent to their deaths. It was over nearly as fast as it started. A healer discovered the power of hemlock, which led to the downfall of the evil ones. But the damage had been done. Within a year, the Maya went from being the most powerful in Mesoamerica to just trying to survive.
“For many hundred years, my people fought amongst ourselves and other groups. The poisonous thought of stealing power had begun. I was a fledgling, just learning our ways, when the Spaniards came. It was a dark time. They sought riches—gold. Many more deaths and destruction followed. They called us heathens, barbarians. It was all we could do to save our lives and bury our precious monuments. For an age I led my people, until the times changed. No one believed in shifters any more and it became unsafe for me to remain in the city. I have never stopped looking after my people.”
Balam swirled the transparent liquid around his glass before slinging it back and swallowing it. It all made so much more sense now, Chance thought. He couldn’t even imagine what his great-grandfather had lived through. Chance’s head hurt trying to do so. Then again, maybe it was the alcohol.
Ana’s voice whispered beside him. “Wow, Balam. What a sad story. I can’t imagine what it was like.”
Balam’s eyes remained on the fire as he said, “It is hard to forget. But you are my new hope. You will carry my people’s history and my lessons with you. I believe a new cycle will begin and I have hopes our kind will not disappear but become strong once more and do as we were intended to do—keep balance in the world.”
He tipped the bottle to Chance’s glass and said, “This is enough talk like this. Let us see if you are ready to discover your nagual. Shifters can have many but we all have one animal that represents us.”
Chance gulped down the liquor and closed his eyes as its warmth spread through his body. His mind was fuzzy and playing tricks on him. Dark shadows curled through the air above the hearth. Was he seeing things? He shook his head, which only made him dizzy.
“Look into the fire,” Balam ordered him. “What do you see?”
Ana leaned forward and stared at Chance.
Chance did as Balam said and focused on the glowing embers under the logs in the hearth. Shapes flickered and danced before him. His blood pounded in his ears and he dropped his head forward despite the vertigo. A pattern began to form in the tangerine glow. Dark orbs blinked and Chance nearly choked in surprise at seeing a beast in the inferno.
Ana’s warm fingers curled around his arm. “What is it?”
He was afraid to blink; he didn’t want to lose the face in the fire. Below the coal eyes, a black nose formed and then a mouth opened in a silent roar and he couldn’t help but laugh.
He should have known. He’d always had a special connection with the grizzly.
“Do you see your nagual?” Balam asked.
“Yes. It’s the grizzly bear.”
“I see. Good work, Chance. Let us sleep off the drink so that you may be prepared for tomorrow.”
Chance groaned, “Ugh, more work.”
Ana helped Chance to his feet. Her strength had grown immensely over the last couple of months, especially now that she was so active. Chance’s weight would have been a burden mere weeks earlier. She found good footing and lifted him up. The way he was lolling around, she was glad she’d had only one shot of Balam’s liquor.
“Mmm,” he mumbled and added, “I’m so tired.”
“Well, let’s get you to bed then. Sounds like Balam has more planned for you. No rest for the weary.”
Now that Chance was standing, he was steady enough on his own and started for the stairs.
“I’m just gonna take care of the fire. Be right up,” Ana said. Chance waved over his shoulder and continued up.
Ana used a stick to spread out the remaining logs in the hearth. It made her nervous to leave the fire, which was still going strong. Sparks flew like tiny geysers as she rolled the wood over, and heat radiated into a warped halo around the sooty embers. Then, as though life were breathed into the flames, they arched in slow motion, fanning out into feathery wings.
I’m staying away from alcohol from now on. She blinked, rubbed her eyes and the apparition was gone. Must be time for bed, she laughed to herself.
Chapter 27
A strange noise woke Chance the next morning. He opened his eyes reluctantly and groaned. A gecko stared at him from his side table and repeated its high-pitched sound.
The light was too bright and made his temples throb so he covered his face with his arms. When had he gone to bed last night? The end of the evening was somewhat of a blur. He sat up slowly and held his head in his hands, hoping doing so would stop the world from spinning. He glanced back over in search of the lizard but it was gone.
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